Combined door check and closer.



W.' s. WILLIAMS.

COMBlNED DOOR CHECK AND CLOSER. APPLICATION FILED FVEB. 7. 1911.

Patented Mar. 28, 1916.

FInfLZdAT hEZZQWJ unis WINFIELD S. WILLIAZM S, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

COMBINED DOOR CHECK AND CLOSER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. as, 1916.

Application filed February 7, 1911. Serial No. 607,097.

To all whom z'z mag concern: a

Be it lmown'that I, lVINrmLD S V IL- LIAMs, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Chicago, in the county; of Cook and State ofIllinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in CombinedDoor Checks and Closers, of which the following is a full, clear,concise, and exact description, reference being'had to the accompanyingdrawings, forming a part of this specification. g

My invention relates to combined door checks and closers and has for itsobject the provision of an improved device of this character which isapplicable to doors in such a way that it may be concealed from view.

It is the particular object'of my invention to provide a simplifieddoorcheck and closer of this character in which the number of partsnecessary is reduced to a minimum and which shall have a high efficiencyin its operation.

Generally speaking the device is designed to automatically close thedoor after it is opened, and is of use for single or double actingdoors.

The device has means for permitting closure of the doorthroughoutvarying desired speeds. The device also has means whereby thedoor can be locked in any desired open position; The device also hasmeans whereby this locking may be prevented if desired when the door isopen to an angular position exceeding a predetermined amount. Means mayalso be provided so that the doormay close with a given speed untilithas reached a' nearly closed position," at which time the speed ofclosure is rapidlyincreased so as to insure the absolute closure of thedoor.

I will describe my invention more in de tail by reference to theaccompanying drawing illustrating one embodiment thereof, in which: a

Figure 1 is a longitudinally sectional'view of my improved door checkand closer with a portion of the door 'and casing-likewise shown insection; Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the link construction, Fig.3is a detail ofthe locking mechanism, and Fig. 4 is a sectional viewofthe arrangement of the piston and piston rod.

In the drawing 1 show a door casing 1 and a longitudinal sectional viewof a portion of a door 2. A hinge having plates 3 and 4 is providedfastened respectively to the casing and the door. The portion 3 of thehinge has a projection 5 to which a link 6 may be pivotally secured. Thelink 6 extends to within the door check proper and is pivotally fastenedto a piston rod 7. The door check proper comprises a cylinder 8 whoseleft hand extremity is closed and sealed with a tubular member 9. Themember 9 has a packing box 10 through which the piston rod 7 passes andsuitable packing 11 prevents the escape of fluid or liquid therethrough.- The cylinder 8 is closed at its outer end by the head 12 asindicated, thus forming an inclosing cylindrical chamber within which apiston 18 may reciprocate. The piston '13 is secured to the inner end ofthe pistonrod 7 to be reciprocated by the movement of the said rod, saidrod being connected by the link 6 to the plate 8 of the hinge.Liquid-14L is preferably employed in the operation of the door check ashere illus trated, although of course, it may be arranged in accordancewith my invention to operate with any other suitable fluid. A tensionspring 15 is preferably employed fastened to the head 12 and oneextremity of the piston 13, which spring tends to draw the piston to theright. A compression spring 16 abutting between the tubular member 9 andthe piston 13 is provided and likewise tends to move the piston towardthe right- The springs are coilsprlngs 111 both instances, the spring 16being located as stated between the inner face of the piston and theouter face of the tubular plug member. The piston rod 7 is held in placewithin a spider structure 17 of the piston by means of a collar 18. Inthis way the piston rod 7 when moving toward the left as when the doorisopened draws the piston 13 with it. i The piston rod 7, however, has aslight lost motion as will be apparent, so that should the door belocked by instrumentalities to be explained later, an unusual pressureis exerted against the door tending to close the same, then the, pistonrod 7 in its automatic movement toward the right will move the collar 18away from its seatand by virtue of the projection 19 will displace thecheck valve 20 from-its seat for purposes to be explained hereinafter.The check valve 20 has a sprlng 21 and is so arranged that when thepiston moves toward theleft, liquid or other fluid may pass through thepiston from the left hand cylinder chamber to the right hand cylinderchamber, but when the piston is moved in a direction toward the right,this check valve 20 normally prevents the return of the liquid throughthe piston from the right hand cylinder chamber to the left handcylinder chamber.

Assuming that the door is opened the liquid from the left hand side ofthe piston is withdrawn to the right hand side of the piston andafterthe door is released by the person opening the same the springs 15 and16 tend to move the piston to the right, thus closing the door by virtueof the link 6. In its automatic movement toward the right the liquid inthe right hand cylinder chamber being prevented from passing through thepiston, passes through a port 22 which communicates with a preferablycylindrical tube 23, which tube 23 may be part of the cylinder 8. Theliquid in passing through the port 22 enters the duct 24 and may passthrough a check valve 25 into a cylindrical chamber 26 through a port27, back to the left hand cylinder chamber.

The valve 25 is so arranged that its opening may be controlled by avalve rod 28,

j which valve rod is screw threadedly mounted within a'support 29. Byrotating the rod 28 it is moved toward or away from the valve 25 andthus permits a more or less opening of the same, thereby to regulate thespeed of the returning door. The support 29 is mounted on a bell cranklever 30, and this bell crank lever is under the control of anotherlever 31 having two push buttons 32 and 33. In the normal position, asshown in Fig. 1, the valve 25 is permitted to open in accordance withthe adjustment of the valve rod 28. After the door is opened and it isdesired to lock the samein position so as to prevent its return, thenpush button 33 is actuated and it moves the valve rod 28 to the rightthrough the agency of the levers 30 and 31 into engagement with thevalve 25to close the same so that no fluid or liquid may pass by thevalve 25, and the springs 15 and 16 can therefore not return the door tonormal position. I

If, without unlocking by .means of the push button devices, the door isforcibly closed, it is necessary to prevent breakage of the parts, andto this end the projection 19 on the piston rod 7 comes into play. Thusif it is attempted to forcibly close the door the valve rod 7 is pushedslightly toward the right without thereby moving the piston which isheld in place by the liquid, but in its movement toward the right thepiston rod by virtue of the projection 19 unseats the valve 20 andpermits the return of liquid from the right hand cylinder chamber to theleft hand cvlinder chamber. It will thus be seen that the valve rod 7 ispermitted a slight movement relative to the piston 13 may beineffective.

and thus when this valve rod is forced to the right (Fig. 1) with thevalve 20 closed, then the piston 13 being held in position permits aslight relative movement between the valve rod 7 and the piston 13,thereby unseating the ball 20 and ermitting liquid from the right sideof the piston to flow to the left side thereof, thus permitting the doorto be slowly moved when in its locked position provided the pressure isof such strength as to overcome the normal retaining influence ofthespring. A projection 34 is provided on the hinge plate 3 so thatshould thedoor forcibly be entirely closed this projection 34: actuatesthe push button 32 and restores the parts to their normal position.

Should the door be opened to an angular position of one hundred and tendegrees and 7 locked in place as 'may be done with the construction sofar described a forcible attempt to close the door, the link 6 beingalmost at right angles to the piston ,rOd 7, would tend to break theapparatus of the door check. It is thus advisable to prevent, j

locking of the door when opened to an angular position of more than onehundred and ten degrees. This is done by providing a port 35 which ispassed by the piston in its left hand movement immediately. the doorexceeds in its angular opening the one hundred and ten degree openingreferred to, V

and the liquid can thus pass from the right hand cvlinder chamber to theleft hand cylinder chamber. through port 35, passageway 26, and port 27,port 27 being never closed by the piston, even should the doorbe openone hundred and eighty degrees.- If the door thus is opened, say onehundred and fifty degrees and locked by means of the push button 33. theports 35 and 27 will per-v mit the flow of liquid uninte'rruptedly untilthe piston in its movement toward the right v has closed the port 35, atwhich time the return of the liquid is limited to the valve 25, and thelocking operation takes effect.

Any degree of angular opening ofthe door may be chosen as the criticalangle beyond which the locking by the push button 33 A port 36 isprovided which is opened just prior to the time the piston has reachedits extreme right hand position, that is, a position in which the Theopening of 7 Slightly before more slowly thanv during its long "sweepafter being open, say ninety degrees. This is accomplished by having.the port 22 in a position where it is somewhat subject to theregulation of the piston 13.

The port 22 is always open to the right hand cylinder chamber but whenthe door in its closing movement has reached a point about ten orfifteen degrees away from absolute closure, the piston is over the port22 and somewhat restricts the flow of liquid by compelling the liquid toflow through the groove 37 provided in the lower portion of the saidpiston. 'It will thus be seen;tl1a;t

during each closure of the door from, say a ninety degree opening, theliquid will pass uninterruptedly through the port 22, then through theregulating valve and back into the left hand cylinder chamber. When thedoor however, is within about fifteen degrees of being shut, the piston13 somewhat restricts the fiow of liquid through V the port 22 and thedoor begins to move more slowly. When the door is very nearly closed theport 36 is opened and the door moves with greatly increased speed andfree dom to insure closure. serves to prevent loss of liquid at thepoint of entrance of the valve rod 28. The head 12 of the cylinder hasan eye 39 preferably integral therewith which is adapted to receive thescrew 40 to hold the checkin place.

It will be seen from the description which has been vgiven that the doorcheck shown herein is capable of providing all of the necessaryoperative conditions as outlined in the preamble. I do not, of course,means to limit myself to the particular structure as it is set forthherein, nor to the use of all of the devices and means as set forthherein, as my invention is capable of a great many modifications and agreat variety of uses, but

Having thus described one embodiment which my invention may take withits various sub-combinations, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. A door check and closer, having a checking cylinder; a pistontherein; a piston rod associated with said piston to move the same, saidpiston and piston rod being movable in a plane parallel to the plane ofthe door; anemergency valve carried by said piston and controlling theflow of the liquid in one direction from one side of said. piston totheother, said valve inert during the normal closure of the door; and adoor actuating spring within said cylinder, and acting on said piston toclose the door.

2. A door check and closer, having a checking cylinder; a pistontherein; a piston rod associated with said piston to move the same, saidpiston and piston rod being movable in a plane parallel to the plane ofthe door; an emergency check valve carried a A packing box 38 by saidpiston and controlling the flow of fluid in one direction from one sideof said piston to the other, inert during the normal closure of thedoor; and door actuating springs within said cylinder and acting onopposite ends of said piston to close the door.

3. A door check and closer, having a checking cylinder; a pistontherein; a piston rod associated with said piston to move the same, saidpiston and piston rod being movable in a plane parallel to the plane ofthe door; a valve carried by said piston and controlling the fiow offluid in one direction from one side of said piston to the other; meansby which said valve may be unseated to relieve sudden pressure upon thedoor; means for permitting the return of said fluid; and a dooractuating spring within said cylinder and acting on said piston to closethe door. 1

l. A door check and closer, having a checking cylinder; a pistontherein; a piston rod associated with said piston to move the same, saidpiston and piston rod being movable in a plane parallel to the plane ofthe door, a check valve carried by said pis ton and controlling the flowof fluid in one direction from one side of said piston to the other;means associated with the piston rod for temporarily unseating the checkvalve; means for regulating the return of said fluid; and door actuatingsprings within said cylinder and acting on opposite ends of said pistonto closethe door.

5. A door check and closer having a checking cylinder; a piston therein;a piston rod associated with said piston to move the sa1ne, said pistonand piston rod being movable in a plane parallel to the plane of thedoor; an emergency valve carried by said piston and normally controllingthe flow of fluid in one direction from one side of said piston to theother; means associated with the piston rod for temporarily unseatingthe check valve; a duct for permitting the return of the fluid; and adoor actuating spring within said cylinder and acting on said piston toclose the door.

6. In a door check and closer, in combination with a checking cylinder;a piston therein; a piston rod associated with said piston to move thesame, said piston and piston rod being movable in a plane parallel tothe plane of the door; an emergency valve carried by said piston andnormally controlling the flow of liquid in one direction from one sideof said piston to the other; means associated with the piston rod fortemporarily unscating the check valve; a duct for permitting the returnof said fluid; means for controlling the flow of fluid through saidduct; and a door actuating spring within said cylinder and acting onsaid piston to close the door.

7 7. In a door check and closer, in combiadjustably controlling the flowof fluid through said duct, and a door actuating spring within saidcylinder and acting on said piston to close the door.

8. In a door check and closer, in combination with a checking cylinder;a piston therein; a piston rod associated with said piston to move thesame, said piston and piston rod being movable in a plane parallel tothe plane of the door; a check valve carried by said pistonand'controlling the flow of liquid in one direction from one side ofsaid piston to the other; a duct for permitting the return of saidfluid; means for adjustably controlling the flow of fluid through saidduct; means for actuating said controlling means to hold the parts in agiven predetermined position; and a door actuating spring within saidcylinder and acting on said piston to close the door. 7

' 9. In a door check and closer in combination with a checking cylinder;a piston therein; apiston rod associated with said piston to move thesame; said piston and piston rod being movable in a plane parallel tothe plane of'the door; a check valve carried by said piston andcontrolling the flow of fluid in one direction from one side of saidpiston to the others; a duct for permitting the return of said fluid;means for adjustably controlling the flow of fluid through said duct;means for actuating said controlling means to hold the parts in a givenpredetermined position; and door actuating springs within said cylinderand acting on opposite ends of said piston to close the door.

10. In a door check and closer in combination with a checking cylinder;a piston movable therein; a check valve carried by said piston andcontrolling the flow of liquid in one direction from one side of saidpiston to the other; a duct for permitting the return of said fluid;means for control ling the flow of fluid through said duct; a by-passcontrolled by the pistonto permit return of the fluid independently ofsaid return permitting means aforesaid; and a door actuating springwithin said cylinder and acting on said piston to close the door.

11. In a door check and closer in combination with a checking cylinder;a piston movable therein; a check valve carried by.

said piston and controlling the flow Ofliq uid in one direction from oneside'of said: piston to the'other; a duct for permitting:

the return of said fluid; means for control ling the flow of fluidthrough said duct; a by-pass controlled by the piston to permit; returnof the fluid independently of said.

return permitting 'means aforesaid; and

door actuating springs within saidcyli nder and acting on opposite endsof said p ston to close the door. 7

12. In a door check and closer, in combination with a checking cylinder;a piston movable therein; a check valve carried by said pistonandcontrolling the flow of liquid in one direction from one side ofsaidpiston to the other; a duct for permitting the return of said fluid;means for control-V ling the flow of fluid through said duct; a by-passcontrolled by the piston to permit return of the fluid independently ofsaid return permitting means aforesaid; a second by-pass controlled bythe piston to permit return of the fluid independently of said returnpermitting means aforesaid; and a door actuating spring within saidcylinder and acting on said piston to close the door.

13. In a door check and closer in combination with a checking cylinder;a piston movable therein;'a check'valve carried by said piston andoontrollingthe flow of liquid in one direction from one side of saidpiston to the other; a duct for permitting the return of said fluid;means for controllingthe H flow of fluid through said duct; a by-pas'scontrolled by the pistonto permit return of the fluid independently ofsaid return permitting means aforesaid; a second by-pass controlled bythe piston to permit return of the fluid independently of said returnper.- mittmg means aforesald; and door actuating springs within saidcylinder and acting on opposite ends of said piston to close the door.-'

14. In a door check and closer in com bination with a checking cylinder;a piston '110" therein; a piston rod associated with said piston to movethe same, said" piston and 1 piston'rod being movable in a planeparallel to the plane of the door; a check valve carried by said pistonand controlling the-flow of fluid in one direction from one side of saidpiston to the other; a duct for permit ting the return of said fluid;means for controlling the flow of fluid through said duct; meanscontrolled bythe piston when near the limit of its return stroke tothrottle the return of the returning fluid; and a door actuating springwithin said cylinderand acting on said piston to close the door-L 15. Ina door check and closer, in combination with a checking cylinder; apiston therein; a piston rod associated with said piston to move thesame, said piston'and piston rod being movable in a plane parallel tothe plane of the door; a check valve carried by said piston andcontrolling the flow of liquid in one direction from one side of saidpiston to the other; a duct for permitting the return of said fluid;means for controlling the flow of fluid through-said duct; meanscontrolled by the piston when near the limit of its return stroke tothrottle the return of the returning fluid; and door actuating springswithin said cylinder and acting on the opposite ends of said piston toclose thedoor.

16. In a door check and closer, in combination with a checking cylinder;a piston therein, a piston rod associated with said piston to move thesame, said piston and piston rod being movable in a plane parallel tothe plane of the door; a check valve carried by said piston andcontrolling the flow of liquid in one direction from one side of saidpiston to the other; a duct for permitting the return of said fluid;means for adjustably controlling the flow of fluid through said duct;means controlled by the piston when near the limit of its return stroketo throttle the return of the returning fluid; and a door actuatingspring within said cylinder and acting on said piston to close the door.

17. In a door'check and closer, in combination with a checking cylinder;a piston therein; a piston rod associated with said piston to move thesame; said piston and piston rod being movable in a plane parallel tothe plane of the door; a check valve carried by said piston andcontrolling the flow of fluid in one direction from one side of saidpiston to the other; a duct for permitting the return of said fluid;means for adjustably controlling the flow of fluid through said duct;means controlled by the piston when near the limit of its return stroketo throttle the return of the returning fluid; door actuating springswithin said cylinder and acting on opposite ends of said piston to closethe door.

18. In a door check and closer, in com bination with a checkingcylinder; a piston therein; a piston for moving said piston rod, saidpiston and piston rod being movable in a plane parallel to the plane ofthe door; a door actuating spring interposed between the said cylinderand piston, for acting on said piston to close the door; means on saidpiston permitting of the flow of fluid in one direction from thecylinder chamber on one sideof said piston to the cylinder chamber onthe other side of said piston; and ports in said cylinder controlled bysaid piston to govern the return flow of said fluid.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 25thday of JanuaryA. D.

I/VINFIELD S. WILLIALIS.

Witnesses:

A. LYDA JoNEs, HAZEL Jonas.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

